R.I.P. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse

Mark Linkous, best known for his work in Sparklehorse, has committed suicide, according to a report by Rolling Stone. His family has issued the following statement:

It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you.

Linkous first came to prominence in the alt-rock world with his 1995 release, Vixadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, which was followed by high-profile tours with R.E.M. and Radiohead. After a near death experience in 1996, Linkous built a distinctive body of work that combined traditional songwriting elements with experiments with production, lo-fi samples, and noise. Over the past decade, he released three more Sparklehorse albums – Good Morning Spider (1998), It’s a Wonderful Life (2001),and Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (2006) – and just last year, collaborated with Fennesz on In the Fishtank, and with Danger Mouse on Dark Night of the Soul. A publicist stated that Linkous had nearly completed a new album due on Anti- Records.

Watch a live performance of the haunting title track from 2001’s It’s a Wonderful Life below.